Investigating the Authenticity of Paintings and Drawings believed to be by or Attributed to;

Richard Parkes Bonington

(Arnold, Nottinghamshire 1802-1828 London)

R P Bonington

The only son of a Nottingham drawing master and stationer, the talented Richard Bonington learned watercolor painting from his father and exhibited paintings at the Liverpool Academy at age 11.

There is no need for a full biography of his life here as it is very well recorded by other commentators, however; Bonington was to have a huge impact on watercolor painting in Britiain and Europe in his artistic future, but this was a product of the times. The collecting craze for his works in the 1830's was purely a symptom of the development of art collecting, a romantic era fascination with all things British. His romantic style spawned numerous forgeries and imitators of his seascapes, costume studies and scenes of Venice.

Such painters associated with Bonington's style include a direct imitator Thomas Shotter Boys (1803-1874), as well as many followers who sometimes rise above the level of an artists imitators: in this case the "late topographers" James Duffield Harding (1797-1863), James Holland (1799-1870) and William Callow (1812-1908).

Richard Parkes Boningtons' exquisite paintings are often poorly imitated today, with the attemped imitation or the attempt at deception undoubtedly due to the vastly increasing values of his works of art in recent years.

With so many variations of paintings claiming to be his, either deliberately faked or more commonly misrepresented or just misattributed to his hand, be that mistakenly or deliberately, appearing on the art market.

It may indeed be true that there are some works of his that were either lost, mislaid, or have been with families for eons that have never surfaced to date and are yet to be documented. But it must be said, some of the Boningtons' works that do appear on the open market will need investigating to be certain of their legitimacy.

Falsified works however, simply effected by the inclusion of a copied signature or monogram placed on a work of art that is just a similar or early type, style, or the subject matter of Richard Parkes Boningtons' paintings, or applied to a previously unsigned or lesser quality work, such as a student of the arts effort, where an original signature has been deleted and a new one added. It is no wonder that question marks can and sometimes do arise about the authenticity of some of his paintings.

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We are international fine art consultants, specializing in conducting full investigations into the authenticity of works of art created by artists in all categories, all regions and from historical eras, alongside scrutinizing their provenance.

Confidentially serving both private individuals and corporate clients from around the world for over 45 years, we can assist and advise you in all fine art related matters, particularly issues of authenticity, legitimacy and the attribution of old and modern master works of art. Including the fine works of Bonington, his circle and followers, or any paintings or works of art that you are unsure about.

Some examples of Richard Parkes Bonington works and those signed with that name, appear below. No inferrence or question is made as to their authenticity, moreover they are a representational view of the types of works offered for sale at auction internationally which need to be understood and sometimes qualified.

Both the duration and direction of any attribution or investigation of authenticity will always vary from project to project, but there are clear and well defined professional formalities, responsibilities and areas of scrutiny that we can assist you with including:

Authentication: Authentification: Conducting and directing comprehensive investigations
and in depth research, with a view to establishing a correct, complete and
formally recognized certification of a work of art. One that is absolutely upheld by the
appropriate, legally acknowledged and internationally sanctioned authority, body or
expert on that given artist.

Directing
detailed and complicated inquiries with multilingual, international academic research and any
forensic applications that are required.

Attribution:Identifying and confirming
the identity of a previously anonymous artist, studio or workshop from which a
work of art most likely originated. Including the re-examination and investigation of a
previous attribution which may be incorrect, or the scrutiny of an attribution
that has been formally questioned or doubted.

Confirmation: Undertaking research and investigations into the legitimacy of the provenance, history and prior ownership of a work of art and establishing its own
accuracy.

Scrutiny: Examen minutieux: Identifying fake works of art
and forgeries, including any false supportive accompanying documentation and
determining works of art which may be studio or later copies, or previous incorrect
attributions.

Prosecution:Poursuite: Investigating alleged art fraud and forgery and assisting and advising those who
are , or may be considering litigating or prosecuting the fact. This includes
legal professionals and private clients.

Attention:Conducting all fine art related due diligence and duty of care
inquiries. Including safe prepurchase or sale related audits and assisting
clients in consolidating a well balanced future family distribution.

Appraisal:Évaluation - Valuations, quality and condition reports.

Step one in the Art Authentication and Attribution process.

Richard Parkes Bonington

The Pre-Authentication Assessment.

Sensibly, before you begin any art authenticity, legitimacy, or any artist attribution investigation, it is more than wise to have an impartial preliminary assessment of the viability of the project conducted first. Made to independently and rationally balance any negative issues there may be against the positive elements. Treat this study as your safety net.

We will be happy to professionally undertake this for you, based upon good quaity images that you supply and all the known facts regarding its acquisition, the history and provenance of the work of art as is known to you.

You will then have a far better understanding of the prospects and pitfalls that could lie ahead.

It is important to understand the auction terms used in any published descriptor and to be cautious of works that may just be painted in the style or manner of the artist, or even the stylized - would be copies of his works which happen to bear a signature or monogram. In this case the paintings and drawings of Richard Parkes Bonington.

Where the name, Richard Parkes Bonington is given with the first name/s and surname of the artist, usually as Richard Parkes Bonington, then in their professional opinion they are in no doubt, it is the genuine and authentic item, one painted by the artist himself, Richard Parkes Bonington.

When Attributed to Richard Parkes Bonington, similarly written or used, then in their opinion it is 'probably' a work by the artist, at least in part. But there is no guarantee. It's only an opinion.

When Richard Parkes Bonington; “Studio of ….” or “Workshop of Richard Parkes Bonington" or attelier" is used, this means that in their opinion it is a work executed in the studio of the artist. Possibly by an apprentice or even a pupil under the principal artists supervision.

But if the term Richard Parkes Bonington, or “Circle of Richard Parkes Bonington” is used, then in their opinion, it is a work of the period of the artist and showing his influence, or closely associated with the artist, BUT not necessarily by his pupil or student.

When the name Richard Parkes Bonington is given; or Painted in the “Style of Richard Parkes Bonington” or “Follower of Richard Parkes Bonington
is used, this means that in their opinion it is a work of art executed only in the artist’s 'style', but not necessarily by a pupil. But it may be contemporary, or nearly contemporary of the artist.

If the phrase in the “Manner of Richard Parkes Bonington, is used it is defined….” Then in their opinion it's a work painted in the style of the artist but of a later date and definitely not by the artist himself.

When the term “After….Richard Parkes Bonington"; is the term, then in their opinion it is a copy (made at any date) of an authentic and original work by the artist. This also applies to prints made 'after' an original..

Richard Parkes Bonington; “Signed…”, “Dated….” or “Inscribed Richard Parkes Bonington” Then in their opinion the work has been signed/dated/or inscribed by that specific artist. The addition of a question mark however, indicates a strong element of doubt.

When the term Richard Parkes Bonington
is used followed by the words; "With signature ….”, or “With date ….” or “With inscription….” or “Bears signature Richard Parkes Bonington/date/or inscription” Then in their opinion, the signature / date / or inscription is spurious, forged or has been added by someone else other than the artist.